Robert Wickens posts video of 'my first slide transfer as a paraplegic'

IndyCar driver Robert Wickens is working feverishly in his rehabilitation from a nasty crash at Pocono Raceway.

Wickens revealed Thursday night that he’s paralyzed from the waist down. Details about Wickens’ condition and recovery have been limited and Wickens’ social media feeds have become the most reliable source of updates. Thursday night, he used the p-word for the first time when he posted a video of his rehabilitation.

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Did my first slide transfer as a paraplegic today. My upper body is getting stronger everyday. I’ve only been posting videos of the small movement in my legs, but the reality is I am far away from walking on my own. I’ve never worked harder for anything in my life. More to come!! pic.twitter.com/lMw8XJgOck

On Instagram, Wickens included in the caption that “some people are a bit confused with the severity of my injury, so I wanted let you know the reality of it.” Throughout his recovery, there’s been a prevailing public sentiment among some that Wickens would be able to return to his No. 6 car in short order.

Wickens suffered a severe spinal cord injury among other significant injuries when his car smashed head-on into the wall at Pocono, flew up into the catchfence and spun like a top before landing right-side up on the pavement. The Schmidt-Peterson Motorsports driver was the IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year and had proven adept at making the transition from sports cars to open-wheel cars.

Three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart has made his desire to run the Indianapolis 500 again public. But he’s now apparently reconsidering that idea after seeing Wickens’ crash and his injuries.

Stewart told the Associated Press on Thursday that he’s not sure he wants to do the race any longer. Stewart has said that if he does the Indy 500 again (he’s 47), he would want to drive at Pocono in the IndyCar Series the season before to get re-acclimated to oval racing before he strapped in at Indy for another run at the Borg-Warner Trophy.

“After Robert Wickens got hurt, I don’t know how excited I am about it anymore,” Stewart said “You watch Robert get hurt and ask yourself if it’s really worth it.”

Stewart is a former IndyCar Series champion and has the best performance of anyone who has done both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day. Stewart finished sixth in the 2001 Indy 500 before flying to Charlotte for the 600 and finishing third.